Gov’t to recover funds from Zoomlion, ends YEA deal

The government has pledged to recover all unauthorized payments made to Zoomlion Ghana Limited after deciding not to renew the company’s long-standing contract with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).

In a letter dated June 11, 2025, Presidential Secretary Callistus Mahama confirmed that all post-contract payments to Zoomlion would undergo thorough auditing. The decision followed a petition by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, who raised concerns over continued payments despite the contract’s expiration.

“No further payments will be authorised without proper verification, and any unauthorised payments will be recovered,” the letter stated.

The contract between YEA and Zoomlion officially ended and, according to the Presidency, will not be renewed. The announcement marks a significant step in response to years of public scrutiny and allegations of financial irregularities in the arrangement.

To reform sanitation service procurement, the government also announced plans to shift from the current single-contractor model to a competitive, decentralized tendering process. Future contracts will be opened up at the regional and district levels to private firms.

As part of the reforms, wages for sanitation sweepers will be increased to address longstanding concerns about poor pay for frontline workers. The government also plans to review all fumigation contracts, with the possibility of terminating underperforming agreements based on recommendations from the Attorney-General.

This decisive move reflects a renewed government commitment to accountability, transparency, and value for money in public sector contracting.

Below is the full text of the government’s response: